First, patients must visit their healthcare provider (patients without a regular health care provider may contact the Public Health offices, who will refer them to a physician). If the physician determines the need for a mammogram, he or she will fill out an order (or prescription) for a mammogram. Patients may then take the orderto Patient Financial Services at Gunnison Valley Health, who will provide vouchers for those in need.

Please note that qualifying for a mammogram or diagnostic breast imaging service is at the physician’s discretion. Your physician will factor age, family history, and personal history into his or her decision. Vouchers will only be given to patients with a doctor's prescription.

New Mother Gift Bags and the New Year’s Baby

When new mothers and their babies are discharged from Gunnison Valley Hospital, GVH provides gift bags to ease their transition home. Pacifiers, booties, hats, blankets—the little things that make life easier. The GVH Foundation also celebrates the first baby of the New Year by inviting local businesses and community members to celebrate the bounty of life by donating gifts and prizes to the new family. Contact the foundation at foundation@gvh-colorado.org to help support new families.

City Market Cares

You can support healthcare in the Gunnison Valley just by picking up the groceries. City Market regularly contributes to local communities when customers register their Value Cards with their favorite local nonprofit. Just assign your Value Card to Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, and City Market will donate a percentage of your purchases back to the Foundation on a quarterly basis. It costs nothing, and there will be no change in your fuel point collection.

To sign up for City Market Cares, please email your name and Value Card number (NOT your phone number) to foundation@gvh-colorado.org. Your Value Card number can be found on the back of your City Market card (it begins with a "4" and is 12 digits long).

Medical Student Loan Program

The GVH Board of Trustees started the Medical Student Loan Program to ensure the future of primary care in the Gunnison Valley. As long-time physicians retire, fewer primary care doctors are training to thake their place. Specializing in medicine can lead to much higher financial returns, giving medical graduates fewer incentives to choose primary care. The Medical Student Loan program eases the burden of medical school debt so doctors can practice in rural communities like Gunnison.

With the financial support of the GVHF Golf Classic, the Hospital has provided loan assistance to two medical students.Each loan installment is $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years. In return, the students agree to practice in Gunnison County following residency. After three years of practice in the Gunnison Valley Health service area the full $30,000 will be forgiven (if the student chooses not to practice in Gunnison County, the loan must be repaid). It's a long term investment in the future of local primary care.

MEDICAL STUDENT LOAN RECIPIENTS

Laura Holder was the first recipient of the Medical Student Loan.

Dr. Holder is a native of Crested Butte. Her father, John Holder, is a physician’s assistant in Gunnison and Crested Butte. Dr. Laura Holder is currently completing her family practice residency in Ventura, CA.

She will be returning to Gunnison/Crested Butte in 2014 or 2015, depending on whether she adds a one-year OB Fellowship to her residency.

Jon Vivolo is the current Medical Student Loan recipient.

Jon is attending Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Denver, CO. During medical school, Jon has sought further education in the specific areas of rural medicine and wilderness medicine.

Jon grew up in Grand Junction and Durango and is an avid mountain biker and skier. Jon will be starting his residency in 2014 and moving to the Gunnison/Crested Butte area in 2017 or 2018 to practice medicine.